Charles h



(No Model.) i

O. H. MILLER. Step Ladder.

No. 230,798. Patented Aug. 3,1880.

N. PETERS. FROTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D c NIT-ED STATES PATENT Fries.

CHARLES H. MILLER, OF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO BOOTZ MANUFACTURING COMPANY, (L1MI'IED,) OF SAME PLACE.

STEQP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 230,798, dated August 3, 1880.

Application filed June 3, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom t't may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StepLadders; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked theron, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the construction of step-ladders 5 and it consists in providing an improved hinge and bracket-iron.

My device is illustrated as follows in the auompanyin g drawings:

Figure l is a side view of the hinge and bracket-irol'i. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same, the wood-work being removed, ex-

cept the hinge-pin D.

A .is the top step of the ladder. B is the stile. G is the prop. D is the hinge-pin or rung on which the prop is pivoted. E is a cross stay-piece. B is a bracket-iron for connecting the stile B to the top step, A. It is provided with lugs b b b, for embracing the stile, and with screw-recesses c a, for screwing it to the top step.

0 is a bracket-iron, which is attached to the prop O, and by which said prop is pivoted to the ladder, and it is provided witha socket, 0 c c, for receiving and holding the prop O, and a socket, e, for the cross stay-piece E, and it also has a socket, d, in the form of a cap or ferrule, to fit over the end of the rung D, to which it is secured by a common wood-screw, or any other desirable means, in such a manner as to form a pivot 011 which the prop can swing.

The prop, when extended, as shown in Fig. 1, has its bearing against the part A and the outer end of the bracket 13. It will therefore be seen that the bearing of the prop is considerably removed from the pivot, and that the prop cannot swing toward the body of the ladder, except when the top of the ladder is raised up.

When the ladder is in use the props cannot walk in without raising the weight upon the ladder.

I do not, however, claim the pivoting of the prop at the end of the bracket, and having it hearing at the other end, as such a device is shown in the patent to J. S. Lash of August 7, 1866.

My invention consists in the improved construction shown.

What I claim as new is- 1. In a step-ladder, the bracket-iron B, provided with means, substantially as described, for attaching the stile and top step of the ladder, in combination with the bracket-iron 0, provided with means, substantially as described, for attaching the prop, and the socket d, for pivoting the said iron upon the rung D.

2. A step-ladder hinge or pivot formed by a socket or cap in the bracket-iron of the prop incasing the ends of a rung in the body of the ladder, and an attachingscrew, d, or its equivalent, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES II. MILLER.

Witnesses:

J NO. K. HALLOGK, JACOB BOOTZ. 

